Lions repay Bulldogs for Round 1 39-point victory

SOUTH Fremantle couldn’t quite keep its momentum going losing to Subiaco by 39 points at Leederville Oval on Saturday conceding top spot in the WAFL in the process.

The game loomed as the clash of the WAFL season to date with both teams entering on 6-1 records with South Fremantle sitting top with the superior percentage and on a five-game winning run with Subiaco having won its last six.

The Bulldogs did beat the Lions by 39 points back in Round 1 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, but the Lions got a measure of revenge on Saturday winning by the exact same margin.

It was an emphatic performance by a Subiaco team who has played in the last three WAFL grand finals and now won seven of its last eight meetings over South Fremantle. This will also be the last clash between the two teams during the home and away season.

The Lions started with a statement kicking the opening three goals and led the entire afternoon, including by as much as 63 points at the 17-minute mark of the last quarter.

South Fremantle kicked the game's last four goals but Subiaco still comfortably prevailed 19.13 (127) to 14.4 (88).

Subiaco not only improved to a 7-1 record with the win to move clear on top of the ladder ahead of the now 6-2 South Fremantle, it was the perfect celebration for captain Horsley who played his 150th game to earn life membership at the Lions.

Horsley delivered a brilliant performance for the occasion as well with 30 possessions and three goals.

Ben Saunders was one South Fremantle forward to have a good afternoon ending up kicking four goals from seven kicks. Cory Dell'Olio, Blaine Johnson and Mason Shaw all managed to kick two apiece as well.

Tim Kelly continued his tremendous form in the midfield for South Fremantle and still had 28 possessions, seven inside-50 entries and two goals despite the 39-point defeat.

Shane Hockey worked hard to end up with 26 disposals and six tackles for the Bulldogs.

Haiden Schloithe was locked in a battle with Subiaco's Corey Adamson all afternoon and still managed 22 possessions and six marks. Brendan Verrier also had 22 disposals for the Bulldogs.

Small defender Jason Maskos did all he could to try and limit the influence of Subiaco's mercurial talent Liam Ryan. He might have kicked four goals but Maskos actually did a good job and continues to be a Bulldogs defender who will fight to the death.

Subiaco got off to a fast start determined to make an early statement. They did that with goals to Ryan, Clancy Wheeler and Liam Baker inside the first 15 minutes.

South Fremantle did answer back through Saunders, but Baker soon added his second and after Horsley kicked his first shortly before quarter-time, the Lions had capped a strong opening term and led by 21 points at the first change.

The Bulldogs did start the second term strongly with a goal in just 30 seconds to Dell'Olio. But Subiaco responded through Baker and former Bulldog Ben Sokol to lead by 28 points.

However, South Fremantle then delivered its best three-minute patch of the game starting with a goal to Shaw before Saunders added another and Dell'Olio ran onto the ball in the open goal square. The margin was then just 11 points and the momentum was with the Bulldogs.

But Subiaco was able to turn the tide again and kicked the last four goals of the first half through Sokol, Ryan, Max Walters and Wheeler to be in control to the tune of 35 points at half-time.

Again South Fremantle got the opening goal of the third term when Shaw kicked his second. It took until the 15-minute mark for Subiaco to score its 12th goal of the afternoon, but when Baker nailed his fourth, Ryan followed with his third and Horsley his second as the lead blew out to 48 points.

The Bulldogs answered with two good goals from Jarrod Garlett and Kelly. But the Lions continued to have all the answers and they closed the third quarter with two goals from Brad Stevenson and Horsley's third to open a 55-point advantage.

The lead grew to 63 points by the time Sokol booted his third 17 minutes into the last quarter.

South Fremantle, at least, finished with some junk time goals with Johnson and Saunders booting two apiece but it only cut the final losing margin for the Bulldogs to 39 points.

The day began at Leederville Oval with the colts contest that saw Subiaco win a tight affair 8.5 (53) to 7.7 (49) despite South Fremantle kicking four goals to one in the last quarter.

John Frampton was tremendous in the ruck for South Fremantle with 26 possessions, six marks and 28 hit outs.

Jack Musika also gathered 27 disposals for the Bulldogs, Michael Redman 19, Brodee Knight 18, Bruno Faulkner 18, Regan Spooner 17 and Eddy Pezet 16.

Then in the reserves contest at Leederville Oval, South Fremantle piled on 11 goals in the third quarter to set up the eventual 18.9 (117) to 14.4 (88) victory over Subiaco.

Subiaco started strongly with six goals to one in the first quarter to lead by 32 points at quarter-time and still by 24 points at the half. But 11 goals to two in the third term set up the 29-point Bulldogs triumph as they remain on top of the ladder.

Josh Pullman kicked four goals for South Fremantle with Andre Coutinho booting three, Mitch Dzelebdzic three, Daniel Cabassi two and Matthew Parker two.

Jake Florenca gathered 30 possessions for the Bulldogs, Tom Vandeleur 23, Josh Collard 21, Kyle Russell 20 and Daniel Burke 18.

Jake Solomon had a strong game in the ruck as well with 19 disposals, seven marks and 41 hit outs.

South Fremantle will look to bounce back hosting an East Perth team at Fremantle Community Bank Oval who is now on a three-game winning run after losing its opening five games of 2017.

SUBIACO            5.3    11.6    17.10    19.13    (127)
SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.0    6.1    9.3    14.4    (88)

SUBIACO – Goals: Ryan, Baker 4; Sokol, Horsley 3; Stevenson, Wheeler 2; Walters.
Best: Horsley, Delahunty, Heal, Baker, Kitchin, Adamson, Sokol. 
SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 4; Johnson, Kelly, Shaw, Dell'Olio 2; Garlett, Strom.
Best: Kelly, Hockey, Maskos, Saunders, Verrier.